The committee that produced this report was asked to review existing New York State social studies syllabi and to make recommendations to the Commissioner of Education designed to increase students' understanding of U.S. culture and its history; the cultures, identities, and histories of the diverse groups that comprise U.S. society today; and the cultures, identities, and histories of other people throughout the world. A review of the existing syllabi respecting these concerns found them to be inadequate. The syllabi were found to contain insensitive language, to draw upon too narrow a range of culturally diverse contexts, and to omit content, felt to be essential, specific to some groups and areas of the world. Among the committee's overall recommendations were that the present New York State social studies syllabi be subjected to detailed analysis and revision to provide more opportunities for students to learn from multiple perspectives and to remove language that is insensitive or that may be interpreted as racist or sexist. The committee also made recommendations concerning the specific areas of teaching and learning, the State Syllabi, and guidelines for implementation. The report concludes with reflective commentaries by several members of the committee in which some dissents are registered and in which others expand upon positions that are held by specific committee members. (Author/DB)